4 Alarming Statistics About Medical Malpractice in the U.S.

Whenever you see a healthcare provider, whether it’s your primary care physician, dentist, or chiropractor, you’re putting a considerable amount of trust in another person. In return, you expect quality and attentive care.

At the end of the day, though, medical professionals make mistakes just like everyone else. Unfortunately, errors in a clinical setting often have catastrophic consequences for the affected patients.

Medical malpractice occurs far more often than you might realize. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few alarming statistics about medical negligence in the United States.

If you have suffered an injury or illness because a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other provider was negligent, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. At LoTempio P.C. Law Group, we can evaluate your case in a free consultation and help you make informed decisions.

We have recovered several multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. Call 716-855-3761 to schedule a free case evaluation with a medical malpractice attorney in New York.

Read on to learn four statistics about medical malpractice:

1. More Medical Malpractice Claims Are Filed in New York Than in Most Other States

Between 2006 and 2016, only three states—California, Florida, and Texas—saw more medical malpractice claims than New York, according to Hofstra University.

2. Medical Mistakes Are a Leading Cause of Death

Medical errors take more than 250,000 lives annually, making malpractice a leading cause of death in this country. According to CNBC, one report estimates that medical mistakes may be responsible for as many as 440,000 deaths annually.

3. More Than Half of All Medical Doctors Have Faced a Malpractice Suit

According to Medscape, more than 50 percent of all physicians have been named in a lawsuit. Specialists are more likely to be sued for medical malpractice. Providers who face the most claims include surgeons, obstetricians, urologists, and radiologists.

4. Medication Errors Are Common

According to U.S. News & World Report, about 1.5 million people are affected by prescription mistakes every year, making them one of the most common types of medical negligence. Medication errors take many forms. The doctor might prescribe the wrong drug, the pharmacist might fill the prescription incorrectly, or the nurse might administer the wrong dose. In any one of these scenarios, the patient’s actual condition can worsen as it goes untreated, and serious complications can arise due to drug side effects and adverse interactions.

Call 716-855-3761 to Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in New York

If you received substandard medical care, you may be entitled to compensation. Turn to LoTempio P.C. Law Group to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney.